All posts in category Labour leadership

In the hours after Ed Miliband beat his brother to the Labour leadership, a small and exclusive club was formed: the Don’t Underestimate Ed Miliband Association (DUEMA). So far we have struggled to recruit members.

It should not be confused with OEMA (the Overestimating Ed Miliband Association, which was founded by various left-wing bloggers and has Lord Kinnock as its honorary president for life). OEMA has decided that Mili E will definitely be the next PM, which is as foolish as declaring at this stage that he won’t.

I stress again, nowhere in the founding articles of DUEMA does it say that Ed Miliband will win the next election. Our contention is actually very simple. After all the upsets and shocks of recent years it would be foolish to write him off. That’s all.

I know that Miliband usurps Miliband is an interesting tale. It’s variation of the second oldest story – Cain and Abel – and is gripping in its way. But some perspective (too much, as they put it in Spinal Tap) is required.

As I tweeted earlier: David Miliband has not died. He just wasn’t all that good at politics, declined to seize the crown when he could have and now has chosen to be a backbench MP (a job once thought of as rather respectable).

But turn on the television news channels and it’s as though he’s the new Princes Diana. Endless introspective interviews with Labour “grandees” Tessa Jowell, Ben Bradshaw and Neil Kinnock are beamed in from Labour conference in Manchester.

Tessa, how’s David coping? Cut to Tessa Jowell, putting on a serious but sad face for the 1000th time today: Well… it’s been very difficult… he’s a great loss to a grateful nation… we will not see David’s like again… much more to contribute to his country, one day… David has chosen to spend more time with his lovely family, and speaking as a friend of Louise, and David… etc, repeat on all channels.

Labour has always been a sentimental tribe, but it’s really going for it today. I suspect this is displacement activity – an exercise in group therapy, and an attempt to fill the hole that’s left by the party not being in government. So to convince itself, as much as anyone else, of its continued importance it thinks it must arrange endless televised statements by the Milibrothers. Brother 1: “I will now make a statement. I love my brother and thank him for the dignified way he made his previous statement.” Brother 2: “Thank you for your statement, brother. I now have another statement of my own to make…”

How long will they keep it up? Can everyone involved stop now, please?